Programmable communicator

ABSTRACT

A programmable communicator device is disclosed having a wireless communications circuit, including an antenna, configured to receive a transmission, and an identity module having a unique identifier. The programmable communicator further includes a processing module including program code configured to determine if the transmission is from an authenticated caller by determining whether a received transmission contains the unique identifier, and memory configured to store telephone numbers or IP addresses received in transmissions from an authenticated caller.

PRIORITY

This patent application is a continuation of and claims priority fromall priority dates of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/801,773, filedMar. 13, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,542,111, and entitled “ProgrammableCommunicator” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/801,773 is acontinuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/328,095, filed Dec. 16, 2011, and entitled “ProgrammableCommunicator” which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/538,603, filed Aug. 10, 2009, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,094,010, and entitled “Programmable Communicator” which is acontinuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/329,212, filed Jan. 10, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,583,197, andentitled “Programmable Communicator” which is a continuation of andclaims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/296,571, filedJan. 21, 2003, and entitled “Programmable Communicator,” which, in turn,is a National Phase filing of and claims priority to PCT/EP01/05738filed on May 18, 2001, which further claims priority from FinlandApplication 20001239, filed May 23, 2000. The disclosures of each ofthese applications are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a programmable wireless communicationsapparatus. More particularly, it relates to a programmable wirelesscommunications apparatus, which can provide an improved means ofcommunication between children and their parents, between elderlypersons and caring relatives, and between mentally less-able individualsand supervising adults. In addition, the invention provides a solutionfor smart clothes applications, which may comprise a telecommunicationsmeans within the lining of a jacket or other article of clothing, aswell as a solution for user-programmable data tags which conveyinformation from remotely located devices such as vending machines. Theinvention relates to and significantly improves upon a previously filedpatent application claiming Finnish priority of Sep. 9, 1997 entitled aPortable Hotlink Communicator published as international patentapplication PCT/GB98/02715.

In this previously filed application, is taught the invention of using amobile phone comprising a programmable identity module such as a SIMcard, in the context of the GSM telecommunications standard, to programthe number of any mobile or fixed telephone to which the Hotlinkcommunicator, comprising a similar type of programmable identity module,is to be linked. Existing and known methods of communication between themobile phone and Hotlink communicator for the purpose of programmingcomprise the obvious choice of data calls such as the Short MessageService in the GSM telecommunications standard. Alternatively a PDA typecommunicator might call up a web page to instruct a network element toprogram the programmable identity module of the Hotlink with the numberof any fixed or mobile telephone to which the Hotlink communicator is tobe linked.

This use of a separate mobile phone to program the number to which theHotlink may call is particularly useful and convenient should a parentwish to change the number if the parent must leave shortly and want thatthe Hotlink is connected immediately to the mobile phone or fixed lineof another parent or supervising neighbour.

The current invention builds upon the teaching of this earlierapplication and extends the concept significantly that it has moregeneral and suitable application to both the child Hotlink communicatorand also to the field of programmable wireless data communication tagsfor the purpose of providing information about the status of a vendingmachine or other piece of technical equipment such as a home applianceor a device to monitor whether a door is open or closed.

In addition to this, the current invention relates directly toprogrammable wireless data communication tags, which comprise the meansto be interfaced directly with other technical equipment such that eachtag can be programmed remotely by any means to be linked to any fixed ormobile telephone to enable data to be sent to or from the device and toallow a person to make a voice call connection to the linked telephone.

Today parents are concerned whether to provide a young child with amobile phone or not. The concern relates to the cost of the mobile phoneshould it be lost or stolen and also to the cost of the use of themobile phone. Clearly there is a need to provide a means to limit thecost of calling and also to provide a means to prevent the childdialling overseas numbers for extensive periods of time.

In the context of mobile phone operators, there exists a need to providea simple and effective communication device, which can provide the meansfor family tariffing such that subscriptions for children can be relatedto the subscriptions of their parents' mobile phones. An improved childHotlink communicator, which restricts the usage of the mobile phone andthereby does not generate high charges through uncontrolled calling, isclearly a solution to the family tariffing challenge.

Parents are often concerned about the whereabouts of their children andnew positioning technologies are being developed for locating mobilephones. These solutions include self-positioning solutions and remotepositioning solutions. One example of a self-positioning solutionincludes the satellite-based Global Positioning System technology inwhich the mobile phone comprising a GPS signal processing circuit isable to determine the coordinates of its own position by processingsignals received from satellites and communicate these coordinates to alocation centre associated with the network. One example of a remotepositioning solution is the method taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,741claiming priority of Mar. 27, 1990 in which the mobile phone is pagedand caused to transmit a response which is processed by communicationstations such as time-of-arrival measurement units associated with thenetwork of master stations or base stations.

This remote positioning method has the advantage that the position ofthe mobile phone can be determined by making use of existing signallingbetween the mobile phone and the network without requiring any changesto the mobile phone, which would increase its cost.

The generic network-based, remote-positioning architecture method ofU.S. Pat. No. 5,051,741 may make use of time of arrival methods or phasedifference calculations to increase the resolution of the area or sectorwithin which the mobile phone is located.

While the location of the mobile phone itself is a good indication ofthe present location of the person carrying the mobile phone, animprovement would be a means to lock the mobile phone to the child, suchthat use of the mobile phone positioning technologies would thendetermine the position of the child.

In addition to these concerns about the failures of existing mobilecommunications technology to provide an improved and more secure methodof instant communication between a parent and a young child, and themeans to determine the position of the child, there is additionalconcern that the battery of the communicator may drain its power withoutthe parent knowing, or may be removed, which would prevent thecommunicator from receiving calls or dialling to the programmed fixed ormobile number to which the communicator is linked.

In addition to these specific communication problem needs, there is agrowing yet unsubstantiated concern about the potentially harmful effectof electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones upon the developingbrains of young children. Within this context, there is an opportunityto design a communication device for children, which positions theradiating electromagnetic field of a communication device away from theclose proximity of the brain. In this regard, parents who maintain thebelief that mobile telephones present a health risk due to the radiatingantenna may rest secure in the knowledge that this risk can besignificantly reduced.

In a separate context, there exists a growing need for a mobiletelephone solution, which is cost effective to manufacture, but which isversatile such that it can form the basis for a smart clothes tag orcommunications application platform. In this context the requirement isfor an embedded mobile phone platform comprising no keypad or display,which may be sewn into the lining of a jacket, or other article ofclothing, having only the call button protruding and a simple pinconnection to recharge the battery. The problem with prior art solutionsis that unless the smart clothes tag can be user-programmable to callany fixed or mobile number by making use of an acceptable method such asvia an SMS data call or via a BlueTooth radio transmission from a mobilephone or intelligent PDA, the solution is impractical to implement.

In security applications where emergency service personnel carryhand-held primary communications devices such as conventional mobilephones, a back-up communications device such as a smart clothes embeddedtag can be of great value in the instance that the primarycommunications device is lost or broken.

In sports areas such as on lakes where there may be people using canoes,a smart clothes communications tag embedded in a life vest may serve toalert a central control point that a person is in difficulty and also toalert other persons in the area to go to their rescue.

In an additional application area, skiers in difficulty would benefitfrom a smart clothes user-programmable communications tag attached totheir clothing, which is pre-programmed to be linked with a fixed ormobile telephone and need only have its protruding button pressed tomake communication with a central alarm point.

In an additional application area there exists the need for auser-programmable remote wireless communications data tag, which can beused to relay information about the status of a remote piece oftechnical equipment such as a vending machine. Home networks could besimplified by making use of the existing mobile network infrastructureto relay data about the status of a home appliance or to indicatewhether a door is open or closed. Packet switched technologies such asGPRS may be used as the radio access technology to communicate thestatus of the technical equipment.

In an additional application area there exists the need for a versatilecommunications platform, which can be combined with remote healthmonitoring technology to assist doctors with remote diagnosis ofpatients.

In an additional application there is the need for a versatilecommunications which is able to work effectively when the network istemporarily overloaded such that it has the means to store a soundmessage as a sound byte or convert it using voice recognition softwaresuch that it can be forwarded as soon as the network capacity becomesless loaded.

Further to these limitations of existing technologies, and so far as isknown, no portable communication apparatus is presently available whichserves to offer an improved programmable communicator which is directedtowards the specific needs of this problem area as outlined.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved programmable communications apparatus, which can be remotelyprogrammed by any mobile phone or IP device such that it can be linkedto any particular fixed or mobile phone or IP device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which may be programmed at closerange using infrared light or a BlueTooth radio connection, or via aterminal-to-terminal network based data call such as the GSM SMS shortmessage service or via a GPRS packet data communication.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which may be programmed by amobile or fixed device which is able to call up an Internet web page andwhich comprises the means to instruct the network to reprogram thecommunications apparatus with the mobile or fixed number to which theprogrammable communications device is to be linked.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which may be programmed via theInternet such that the network communicates with a device in thevicinity of the programmable communications apparatus which itselfcauses the said apparatus to be programmed using any means such aswireless communication, infrared light or a BlueTooth radio link.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pluralityof programmable communications apparatuses, which may be simultaneouslyprogrammed by a mobile or fixed device which is able to call up anInternet web page and select one or more apparatuses of the saidplurality and cause each of the selected number of apparatuses to belinked to the identical mobile or fixed telephone.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a processingmeans to process coded transmissions and permit only transmissionscomprising a coded number, which determines the authenticity of themessage, to be allowed to program the number to which the said apparatusbe linked.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a wrist strap, oran attachment such as in the case of the smart clothes application, anda first alarm means which can be programmed such that it can cause amessage to be sent to the fixed or mobile number to which the saidapparatus is linked in the case that the wrist strap be broken or undoneor in the case that the said attachment be broken or displaced from aninitial position of equilibrium.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which may have a separatepressure sensitive means or displaceable means which becomes activatedin the pressed position or displaced position respectively such that itis able to generate an alarm or data message when pressure is removed orwhen the displacement returns to the non-displaced position. Such afeature serves, by way of example, to replace the need for the wriststrap feature of the previous object such that when the wrist worncommunicator is removed from the wrist the pressure sensitive means ordisplaceable means can provide the required alarm message.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a heat sensor,which can detect that the communicator is adjacent to a heat source suchas the skin of a child and the means to generate an alarm message if theheat source is removed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which has the means to detect anyother detectable physical characteristic of the human skin, which may beused to trigger an alarm if the means is moved away from the skin.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus for a security application, whichcomprises an infrared heat detector and which is able to generate analarm message if a change in the level of infrared radiation isdetected.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which may form part of a homenetwork of devices, which is used to monitor a domestic appliance suchas a washing machine or a device to monitor whether a door or window isopen or closed and to react to a change in status of said appliance ordevice by sending an alarm message or data message to a linked fixed ormobile telephone or internet IP address to indicate a current status ofsaid appliance or device. In addition the said apparatus may beincorporated in a bicycle frame or attached to a bicycle for monitoringmovement of the bicycle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which has a memory means to storesound as a sound byte for a certain period of time such as the voice ofthe child wearing the programmable communicator and the means to sendthis sound to the telephone number to which the said apparatus islinked.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which has a means to store andtransmit a sound byte in response to receiving a sound above apredetermined threshold such that a person who is in distress may shoutout and the distress call is processed by the programmable communicatorand forwarded to the fixed or mobile telephone or IP address to whichthe said communicator is linked.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which is able to make a call to alinked fixed or mobile telephone or IP address and which if it detectsthat the telephone number is engaged or does not answer or that the IPaddress is invalid, the said apparatus has the means to select any othertelephone number or IP address in the permitted callers list such thatit can be connected to said other telephone or IP device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which is able to store a soundbyte or store a data record and send the sound byte or data record toany other telephone number or IP address in the permitted callers listafter a certain interval of time in the instance that the primary numberor IP address is engaged or connection is not able to be made at thattime due to the network capacity not being sufficient at that time. Thefeature may also include a continuous retry feature such that theattempt to send the sound byte or data record is continued until thesound byte or data record is successfully sent.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which has the means to convert avoice message into text and send this as a data message to a fixed ormobile telephone or IP address to which the said apparatus is linked.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which is able to receive datafrom a plurality of data monitoring devices, which may be connected byany wired or wireless means, and that each of said devices has anassociated status condition, such that the programmable communicationsapparatus can transmit data from said devices on request or periodicallyto a fixed or mobile telephone or IP address to which the said apparatusis linked.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, in which the said first alarmmeans may communicate directly with a central communications point inthe network.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, in which the said first alarmmeans may communicate directly with a web page and write information tothat page or cause an E-mail to be sent to a specific address.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a second alarmmeans, which can be programmed to cause a message to be sent to thefixed or mobile number to which the said apparatus is linked in the casethat the battery is low in power or in the case that the battery isremoved or in the case that the communicator be switched off.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a second alarmmeans, which can be programmed to send a message periodically comprisingany status message such as the current power status of the battery.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a battery chargeradapter-pin such that the apparatus can make use of suitable batterychargers of other mobile phones.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises the means to beinterrogated remotely by another fixed or mobile telephone or networkconnected device, such that different codes are used to obtain differentdata from the said apparatus. In the context of remote healthmonitoring, by way of example, a doctor could send different codes fromher mobile terminal and obtain different data on blood pressure and theheart rate of the person wearing the apparatus associated with a healthmonitoring system. The said apparatus may make use of physicalmonitoring means associated with said apparatus for providinginformation about the skin temperature and blood pressure and othercharacteristics of the human body.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which has application to smartclothes such that it provides a secondary communications means foremergency service personnel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which is suitable for attachmentto a life vest. A further object of this application includes awater-enabled communications apparatus, which may be used to communicatewith a portable central communications unit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which comprises a GPS signalprocessing circuit and the means to respond to an authenticated requestto determine its own position and send data relating to its position tothe linked fixed or mobile telephone or to a location determinationcentre or to a specified web page.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which may be securely attached toa device such as a bicycle, which may be used for communication and fordetermining the position of the bicycle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which is suitable for youngchildren such that it comprises an auto-answer facility to connect thecaller immediately with an associated microphone and loudspeaker toavoid the need that the child must press a button to answer the call.This application also includes the feature, which returns theprogrammable communicator automatically to idle state as soon as thecaller to the child terminates the call remotely. This avoids the needthat the child must terminate the call. It also prevents the child fromterminating the call by accident.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable communications apparatus, which can be used with mobilelocation based services such that it is possible for an authenticatedperson to access a web page, either on a hand-held terminal or fixeddevice, which shows the position of the programmable communicationsapparatus as an icon on a map after its position has been determined byits own GPS signal processing circuitry or remotely by the network.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe description to follow when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain of the foregoing and related objects are readily-attainedaccording to the present invention by the provision of a novel portableprogrammable communicator, which serves to address the diversecommunication requirements of children and elderly persons and for thepurposes of remote data monitoring applications such as for monitoringthe status of remote technical devices.

The programmable communicator preferably comprises a basic mobiletelephone circuit having no keypad or display and a rechargeable batteryand antenna and a basic two-way microphone device and remotelypre-programmable identity module linking it to a single mobile or fixedtelephone. Where appropriate, in alternative embodiments, theprogrammable communicator comprises an alarm means to indicate certainconditions of the communicator such as the charge level of its batteryor if the battery is removed. Similar alarm messages are generatedaccording to the particular embodiment of the programmable communicatorapplication which include the generation of messages when an associatedwrist strap or attachment of the communicator in the case of a smartclothes application is undone or displaced or when the communicator isswitched on or off or when the communicator is set to monitor the statuscondition of an associated device and the status changes beyond a presetthreshold level. The invention also includes the generation of periodicmessages to indicate that the communicator is working and that anyassociated status condition thresholds remain unchanged. This last setof messages, which includes periodic reassurances messages includes thefacility that the user may set the duration of the period according tothe application.

The programmable communicator has direct and effective application tohome networks for the purpose of transmitting information about thestatus condition of domestic appliances such as the pressure of waterpipes and whether a door or window is opened or closed. The wirelessprogrammable communicator can be attached to an associated monitoringdevice and programmed with the number of a mobile or fixed telephone towhich it is to be linked or to an Internet web page which can be madeaccessible to authenticated users or to security monitoring personnel.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, which disclose one embodiment of theinvention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings aredesigned for the purpose of illustration only and that the particulardescription of the portable hot link communicating apparatus is given byway of example only and does not limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of the invention will be more readily understoodby reference to the following detailed description, taken with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the schematic of the programmable communicatoraccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schema showing the actions performed by theprogrammable communicator in response to an incoming call or messageaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schema showing actions done by the programmablecommunicator and the outgoing calls or messages, which are generated asa consequence of said actions.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1thereof, therein illustrated is a programmable communicating apparatusaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

The following description makes reference to the detailed features asoutlined in the objects of the invention.

In FIG. 1 is shown a telephone circuit 10, which comprises an antenna 20and a battery 30. To the telephone circuit, which may similarly comprisea communicating PDA device circuit, is shown an optional BlueToothmodule 40 for communication with a nearby data communication orprogramming device having a similar BlueTooth radio module. Thetelephone circuit 10 has a ringing tone generator and an auto answermodule 50 which may be used to cause the programmable communicator togenerate one of a number of ringing tones or to auto answer upon receiptof an authenticated permitted caller.

For the purposes of programming the IP address or telephone number ofthe fixed or mobile telephone to which the communicator is linked isprovided an SMS processing means 60. This communicates with anauthentication means 90, which in turn is able to store numbers into apermitted callers list 110. For the purposes of security, a sound bytecapture means and threshold detector means 100 is provided to generatean alarm message or to send a sound byte to one of the numbers on thepermitted callers list. Additional voice recognition software may beused to convert the sound byte into text and send this to thedestination telephone number or IP address.

An SMS alarm generation means 70 is provided to work together with abattery charge monitor 35 and a sensor means 80 and an alarm messagelist 120 and a programmable interface means 140 to generate alarmmessages in response to changes in status conditions. Said programmableinterface means may be attached to all manner of sensor devices for thepurpose of relaying data from external devices and sensors eitherautomatically or in response to a request for information from a remotedevice.

The periodic status report means 130 may be programmed to provide dataon the current status of the programmable communicator as well as datafrom one or more devices, which may be connected to the communicator viathe BlueTooth module 40.

In the case that the programmable communicator is unable to make animmediate connection with the linked telephone or IP address, areselection means 150 provides one or more connection numbers from thepermitted callers list.

This device comprises a novel combination of existing technologies andfeatures, which make possible the existence of a new and improvedcommunicating apparatus to address the communication needs of childrenand elderly persons and for programmable data tags for monitoring thestatus of associated technical equipment.

The use of the programmable communicator involves two phases, apre-programming phase and an active phase. In the pre-programming phase,the communicator is programmed with the number it can call whichcomprises a unique code. By way of example only, the invention is nowdescribed in the context of the GSM mobile telecommunications standardusing the Short Message Service or SMS circuit-switched data call. Theinvention relates to all telephone standards including, and not limitedto CDMA and US-TDMA, and is effectively used also in a packet switchingmode such as the GSM GPRS packet switching mode. Furthermore theinvention is suitably applicable to IP devices, which comprise IPaddresses rather than telephone numbers.

According to the invention, it is wished to allow only authenticatedcallers to change the telephone number or IP address of a fixed ormobile telephone or network device to which the programmablecommunicator is to be linked. This may be done in GSM using an SMSmessage, which includes data as well as a unique code such as the uniquecode of the Subscriber Identity Module or SIM card, often referred to asthe PUK code. The PUK code is a unique identifier, which is differentfor every SIM card. The choice of the PUK is made by way of example onlyand any similar unique coding may be used for the purpose of theinvention

It is a straightforward procedure to communicate with the programmablecommunicator by SMS. The remote transmitting device includes the PUKcode of the receiving programmable communicator in its SMS transmissionas well as a telephone number to which the programmable communicator isto be linked.

The programmable communicator includes a processing means to determinethat the PUK code is correct and the means to store the transmittednumber. The PUK code may also be used to program the list of permittedcallers. An SMS comprising the PUK code may contain a plurality oftelephone numbers each of which designates a permitted caller's number.Only numbers, which are stored as designated permitted callers, willcause the programmable communicator to generate a ringing tone.

Alternatively, the programmable communicator may include circuitry toterminate the calls of non-permitted callers automatically. In the sameway that the telephone number of an incoming call can be shown on thescreen of a mobile phone before the phone is answered, this informationmay be used to enable the programmable communicator to receive the callor to reject it.

Additional codes may be used by authenticated callers to interrogate thestatus condition of the programmable communicator, or to interrogate thestatus of data monitoring devices to which the communicator is wired orwirelessly attached.

In this way, in the application for an improved child communicator, onlypersons knowing the secret PUK code would be able to change the callingnumber. This provides the essential security for the parents.Furthermore, the feature, which causes the communicator to reject allcalls but those from telephone numbers on the permitted callers listserves to shield the child from unwelcome contact.

The following example demonstrates how five SMS messages might programthe permitted callers list A-E

SMS 1. PUK code A: 040 111 1111 SMS 2. PUK code B: 040 222 2222 SMS 3.PUK code C: 040 333 3333 SMS 4. PUK code D: 040 444 4444 SMS 5. PUK codeE: 040 555 5555

The letters A to E in the five messages or any equivalent coding may beused to designate the priority of the telephone numbers of the permittedcallers such that letter A designates the number to which theprogrammable communicator is linked at this moment.

In a simple use scenario, a child may be playing in the garden or nearto the house wearing a programmable communicator programmed to themother's telephone phone number, 040 111 1111. In the next moment, thefather comes home and sends an SMS to the child's programmablecommunicator using his phone having telephone number 040 222 2222. Inthis example, the message comprises PUK code A:040 222 2222 which causethe calling number of the programmable communicator to be nowreprogrammed to call the father's number if its call button is pressedby the child.

An additional security feature comprises software, which will cause anSMS emergency message to be sent automatically to the pre-programmednumber if the wrist strap is broken or undone, or the communicator isswitched off. An additional sensor may be used instead of a means togenerate an SMS message if the wrist strap is broken or undone wherebysaid sensor can sense the heat of the skin, which will cause an SMSmessage to be sent if the communicator is moved away from the skin.

Additional software features may generate messages to indicate thecharge of the battery or if the battery drains completely or is removed.

To avoid a total failure condition, the programmable communicator maycomprise a separate back-up power supply in addition to the battery,which is sufficient to generate an alarm message or number of alarmmessages, in the instance that a power connection is lost from anassociated device or if its own battery supply drains completely.

In this way, the telephone number to which the programmable communicatoris linked receives messages about the status of the battery and anindication of whether the communicator has been removed from the child.

In a separate embodiment, is included the feature that certain alarmmessages are sent to one or more of the telephone numbers, or IPaddresses in the IP network application of this invention, which are onthe permitted callers list. This feature would enable at least one otherperson to receive an alarm message in case the primary linked telephoneis busy or the associated user of the linked telephone is unable to readthe message immediately.

The programmable communicator comprises a processing module, which canreceive information about its wrist strap or associated attachment. Inthe embodiment of a smart clothes tag, the said associated attachmentmay comprise a fibre or wire, which, if mechanically pulled, causes thegeneration of an alarm message. Clearly, in the case of a wrist worncommunicator, the opening or closing of the wrist strap may be used toactivate an electronic circuit to generate a status condition of thewrist strap. It is anticipated that the receiver of the alarm messagemay then call the child directly, if possible, to check if there is aproblem. Additionally, location based services may be used to locate theposition of the communicator relative to the network infrastructure.

In a separate embodiment, the programmable communicator comprises afeature, which enables a user to cause it to transmit a status messageperiodically, according to a periodic duration as set by the user, whichwill provide reassurance that the communicator is functioning correctly,and for example, that the wrist strap is closed, and that the batteryhas sufficient power.

The types of data that the communicator can provide periodically, or onrequest, are determined directly by the application of the inventionaccording to different remote monitoring embodiments. In eachapplication the programmable communicator has the appropriate means toreceive the data from the monitoring device and the means to process thedata.

The programmable communicator has further direct application to thefield of remote data monitoring such as in the home network environment.Today, domestic appliances such as washing machines and sauna heatersremain separate from one another and only a few have the capability tobe integrated into remote monitoring applications.

The programmable communicator may be used to generate data messages,which describe the status or change in status beyond a thresholdcondition, of a household appliance and communicate this data directlyto a linked telephone number or IP address of a linked device orInternet web page.

The use of GSM GPRS packet switching technology in this context is idealsince the application does not require a continuous circuit switchedconnection to the network. The remote monitoring application comprisesthe use of a programmable communicator, which reacts to a statuscondition and then initiates a packet data transmission to the network.Consequently, the programmable communicator comprises a separate back-uppower supply in addition to the battery, which is sufficient to generatean alarm message or number of alarm messages, in the instance that apower connection is lost from an associated device or if its own batterysupply drains completely.

In a separate home-network application, the programmable communicatormay be used to gather data from a number of associated monitoringdevices and to communicate this to the linked telephone or IP device orInternet web page. The monitoring devices may be directly linked to theprogrammable communicator by wire or wirelessly connected by, forexample, the BlueTooth radio technology in which case the programmablecommunicator comprises the necessary additional BlueTooth communicationsmodule.

In a sports or safety application, the programmable communicator maycomprise a smart clothes tag and be sewn into the lining of a life vestsuch that a person paddling a canoe may use it for urgent communication.

Other applications for the programmable communicator include theme parksand other sports events or places where children may become lost in thecrowds.

In addition, the invention may be utilised as a voice and datacommunicator for bicycles. In this application, data from the bicyclesuch as speed could be used in sports training as a means to enhance theperformance of a cyclist. In a more general application, a programmablecommunicator can be used to inform the owner of a bicycle that hisparked bicycle is being moved and to determine its location, if needed,by making use of the location-based services functionality of thetelecommunications network.

While only one embodiment of the present invention: the programmablecommunicator within the context of the digital GSM telephone system inparticular, has been shown and described in detail, it will be obviousto those persons of ordinary skill in the art, that many changes andmodifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. For example, the hot link communicator may make use ofany telephone technology such as CDMA, and US-TDMA. Moreover, theinventive features of the programmable communicator may be incorporatedinto a monitoring device and integrated with it such that the devicecomprises the capability of the programmable communicator. The inventionis not limited to the application of the programmable communicator as aseparate device, which separately communicates with data monitoringdevices but also includes the application of the functionality of theinvention as an integrated part of the monitoring device.

It is further to be understood that the invention may make use of allcoding schemes for storing numbers to the programmable apparatus and theuse of the PUK code was by way of example only. The programmablecommunicator may comprise the means to accept all manner of clip oncovers so that the same base model may carry one of a number ofdifferent covers to suit the tastes and the age groups of differentwearers.

What is claimed is:
 1. A programmable communicator device comprising: aprogrammable interface for establishing a communication link with atleast one monitored technical device, wherein the programmable interfaceis programmable by wireless packet switched data messages; and aprocessing module for authenticating one or more wireless transmissionssent from a programming transmitter and received by the programmablecommunicator device by determining if at least one transmission containsa coded number; wherein the programmable communicator device isconfigured to use a memory to store at least one telephone number or IPaddress included within at least one of the transmissions as one or morestored telephone numbers or IP addresses if the processing moduleauthenticates the at least one of the transmissions including the atleast one telephone number or IP address and the coded number bydetermining that the at least one of the transmissions includes thecoded number, the one or more stored telephone numbers or IP addressesbeing numbers to which the programmable communicator device isconfigured to and permitted to send outgoing wireless transmissions;wherein the programmable communicator device is configured to use anidentity module for storing a unique identifier that is unique to theprogrammable communicator device; and wherein the one or more wirelesstransmissions from the programming transmitter comprises a GeneralPacket Radio Service (GPRS) or other wireless packet switched datamessage; and wherein the programmable communicator device is configuredto process data received through the programmable interface from the atleast one monitored technical device in response to programminginstructions received in an incoming wireless packet switched datamessage.
 2. A programmable communicator device according to claim 1,wherein the processing module is configured to process data receivedthrough the programmable interface from the at least one monitoredtechnical device in response to programming instructions received in anincoming wireless packet switched data message.
 3. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 1, wherein the programmablecommunicator device comprises the identity module.
 4. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 1 wherein the programmablecommunicator device is configured to process wireless transmissionscompliant with Bluetooth wireless air interface standards.
 5. Aprogrammable communicator device according to claim 1 further configuredto request that an at least one monitored technical device send datathrough the programmable interface for processing by the programmablecommunicator device in response to programming instructions received inan incoming wireless packet switched data message.
 6. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 1 further configured to transmitthe processed data to an at least one monitoring device in response toprogramming instructions received in an incoming wireless packetswitched data message.
 7. A programmable communicator device accordingto claim 6, wherein the processing module is configured to cause theprocessed data to be transmitted to the at least one monitoring devicein response to programming instructions received in an incoming wirelesspacket switched data message.
 8. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 6 further configured to determine whether a datarequest initiated by the monitoring device includes a required accesscode in response to programming instructions received in an incomingwireless packet switched data message.
 9. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 8, wherein the processing module is configuredto determine whether the data request includes the required access codein response to programming instructions received in an incoming wirelesspacket switched data message.
 10. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 1 further configured to determine whether theprocessed received data indicates a change in status of the at least onemonitored technical device that crosses a threshold parameter, or thatotherwise indicates an alarm condition in response to programminginstructions received in an incoming wireless packet switched datamessage.
 11. A programmable communicator device according to claim 10further configured to send an at least one transmission for alerting anat least one monitoring device of said change in status or other alarmcondition in response to programming instructions received in anincoming wireless packet switched data message.
 12. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 1 further configured to requestthat an at least one monitored technical device send data through theprogrammable interface for receipt by the programmable communicatordevice in response to programming instructions received in an incomingwireless packet switched data message.
 13. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 1 further configured to transmit the receiveddata to an at least one monitoring device either periodically or inresponse to a data request initiated by the monitoring device inresponse to programming instructions received in an incoming wirelesspacket switched data message.
 14. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein the processing module is configured tocause the received data to be transmitted to the at least one monitoringdevice in response to programming instructions received in an incomingwireless packet switched data message.
 15. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 1 configured to process an at least one datamonitoring or data collection request contained in an at least onetransmission received from an at least one monitoring device in responseto programming instructions received in an incoming wireless packetswitched data message.
 16. A programmable communicator device accordingto claim 1 further comprising a location processing module configured todetermine an at least one location of the programmable communicatordevice, and wherein the programmable communicator device is configuredto respond to an at least one transmission initiated by an at least onemonitoring device requesting that said location data be sent to themonitoring device in response to programming instructions received in anincoming wireless packet switched data message.
 17. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 16 wherein the locationprocessing module comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) module.18. A programmable communicator device according to claim 1 wherein themonitored technical device is a sensor device.
 19. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 1 wherein the monitored technicaldevice is a health monitoring system.
 20. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 19 wherein the programmable communicatordevice is configured to receive data from the health monitoring systemthrough the programmable interface representing at least one of bodytemperature, blood pressure, periodic or continuous electrocardiogramheart rhythm, blood glucose concentration, blood electrolyteconcentration, kidney function, liver function, and labor contractionsin response to programming instructions received in an incoming wirelesspacket switched data message.
 21. A programmable communicator deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the monitored technical device is a vendingmachine.
 22. A programmable communicator device according to claim 1wherein the monitored technical device is a home or domestic appliance.23. A programmable communicator device according to claim 1 wherein themonitored technical device is at least one of a door status monitoringdevice, a window status monitoring device, a proximity detector device,and a fire alarm device.
 24. A programmable communicator devicecomprising: a programmable interface for establishing a communicationlink with at least one monitored technical device; and a processingmodule for authenticating one or more wireless transmissions sent from aprogramming transmitter and received by the programmable communicatordevice by determining if at least one transmission contains a codednumber; wherein the programmable communicator device is configured touse a memory to store at least one telephone number or IP addressincluded within at least one of the transmissions as one or more storedtelephone numbers or IP addresses if the processing module authenticatesthe at least one of the transmissions including the at least onetelephone number or IP address and the coded number by determining thatthe at least one of the transmissions includes the coded number, the oneor more stored telephone numbers or IP addresses being numbers to whichthe programmable communicator device is configured to and permitted tosend outgoing wireless transmissions; wherein the programmablecommunicator device is configured to use an identity module for storinga unique identifier that is unique to the programmable communicatordevice; and wherein the programmable communicator device is configuredto process data received through the programmable interface from the atleast one monitored technical device.
 25. A programmable communicatordevice according to claim 24, wherein the programmable communicator isconfigured to process data received through the programmable interfacefrom the at least one monitored technical device in response toprogramming instructions received in at least one incoming short messageservice (SMS) data message, a GPRS message, or any wireless packetswitched data message.
 26. A programmable communicator device accordingto claim 25 further configured to request that an at least one monitoredtechnical device send data through the programmable interface forreceipt by the programmable communicator device in response toprogramming instructions received in an incoming short message service(SMS) data message, a GPRS message, or any wireless packet switched datamessage.
 27. A programmable communicator device according to claim 24,wherein the programmable interface is wirelessly programmable by anincoming short message service (SMS) data message, a GPRS message, orany wireless packet switched data message.
 28. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 24 wherein the processing moduleprocesses received data to determine whether it indicates a change instatus of the at least one monitored technical device that crosses athreshold parameter, or that otherwise indicates an alarm condition. 29.A programmable communicator device comprising: a programmable interfacefor establishing a communication link with at least one monitoredtechnical device, wherein the programmable interface is programmable bywireless packet switched data messages; and a processing module forauthenticating one or more wireless transmissions sent from aprogramming transmitter and received by the programmable communicatordevice by determining if at least one transmission contains a codednumber; wherein the programmable communicator device is configured touse a memory to store at least one telephone number or IP addressincluded within at least one of the transmissions as one or more storedtelephone numbers or IP addresses if the processing module authenticatesthe at least one of the transmissions including the at least onetelephone number or IP address and the coded number by determining thatthe at least one of the transmissions includes the coded number, the oneor more stored telephone numbers or IP addresses being numbers to whichthe programmable communicator device is configured to and permitted tosend outgoing wireless transmissions; wherein the programmablecommunicator device is configured to use an identity module for storinga unique identifier that is unique to the programmable communicatordevice; and wherein the one or more wireless transmissions from theprogramming transmitter containing instructions to program the storednumber comprise one or more short message service (SMS) data messages;and wherein the programmable communicator device is configured toprocess data received through the programmable interface from the atleast one monitored technical device in response to programminginstructions received in at least one incoming short message service(SMS) data message or packet switched data message.
 30. A programmablecommunicator device according to claim 29 wherein the processing moduleprocesses received data to determine whether it indicates a change instatus of the at least one monitored technical device that crosses athreshold parameter, or that otherwise indicates an alarm condition.